Author Archives: Bob Hughes

About Bob Hughes

Retired railwayman, life long railway modeller, lover of good beer and spicy food.

Non-revenue rolling stock

Posted on 12/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

The Matchbox side tippers have been removed from their frames. These were then used, with coffee stirrers and card, to build four very tatty drop-bottom gondolas for non-revenue service. This could be anything from delivering loco coal and removing ash … Continue reading →

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Backstage pass

Posted on 11/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

In common with my other Ferronor Division micro layouts Antequera uses cassettes for the off stage arrangements. The rat’s nest on the left confirms that the layout can be used for normal operation as well as puppet rods. I really … Continue reading →

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Antequera verde

Posted on 10/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz… Before starting work the layout was swept with a soft brush to remove dust and small bits of debris. Nature is seldom monochrome so three varieties of scatter were applied and secured in … Continue reading →

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Cynical passengers

Posted on 09/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

The FCPyF’s passengers have a distrust of anything “new” because the chances are that it either hasn’t been properly tested or it has got wet paint on it. As a result of this cynicism the tourists on this excursion insisted … Continue reading →

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May ops session, part 2

Posted on 08/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

Continuing from where the morning shift left off on Sunday… Train 3 from Grande to San Fernandez was doodlebug 26 and a pair of vans. The northbound train was switched onto the siding at Casablanca. Train 102 from San Fernandez … Continue reading →

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Dirty linen

Posted on 06/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

Don’t air your dirty linen in public, or so the saying goes. Since the switchback was installed there has been a very obvious hindrance to photographing parts of the layout with Paño Cucina in the background. The blue and white … Continue reading →

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Operating session May 2024

Posted on 05/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

The FCPyF’s May operations have been split into two shifts. This post deals with the morning’s trains. The first northbound, train 5, was railbus 33 with a boxcar of mail and LCL freight. This working is what was once known … Continue reading →

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Lego

Posted on 04/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

I suspect that most modellers in my age group used to play with Lego when they were kids. It would seem that some people still do. Photographs taken near the Swizzels factory in New Mills yesterday. Stick them in your … Continue reading →

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Ruston at Lyddlow Mill

Posted on 02/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

The O scale puppet rod loco took to the rails this morning. I think it fits in nicely, a micro loco for a micro layout.

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Mayday madness

Posted on 01/05/2024 by Bob Hughes

A bit of progress was made with the standard gauge Ruston today. The tiny shunt engine now has its footplate and headstocks attached to the chassis. Solebars will be made from coffee stirrers and drawing pins will be used for … Continue reading →

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